Coherent oscillations in a single electron spin at room temperature

Rabi nutations of a single electron spin in a single defect center have been detected. The coherent evolution of the spin quantum state is followed via optical detection of the spin state. Coherence times up to several microseconds at room temperature have been measured. Optical readout of the spin states leads to decoherence, equivalent to the so-called Zeno effect. Quantum beats between electron spin transitions in a single spin Hahn echo experiment are observed. A closer analysis reveals that beats also result from the hyperfine coupling of the electron spin to a single 14N nuclear spin. The results are analysed in terms of a density matrix approach of an electron spin interacting with two oscillating fields.